"Clean as you go" is a piece of cooking advice I took to heart years ago, so when I'm in the kitchen with someone who doesn't follow the same principles, my stress levels rise and I start looking around desperately for a sponge. Are you the same way? More

The kitchen is the heart and center of the home — but it gets dirty fast. (Cleaning up is the downside to cooking at home!) If neglected, aside from basic washing up and wiping down, the kitchen can get out of hand very quickly. But forget weekend cleaning marathons — you can deep-clean the kitchen from top to bottom (and keep it clean!) in only 20 minutes a day.

Here is a 30-day plan that will help you clean your kitchen in manageable chunks of time — and keep it gleaming clean without those hours of toil on the weekend. (We even have a handy PDF you can print out and tack on the fridge to remind you!) More

I love my dish scrubbers, but they can be tricky to find homes for on the sink. Even in the cutest container they still just look like a dish brush. Hide them out of sight while still giving them room to breathe and dry properly. Check out this simple tip for renters and home owners alike. More

Q: I borrowed a Bialetti stovetop espresso maker from my neighbor to try it out before I bought one, and (not my brightest move) put it in the dishwasher. When it came out the shiny finish was gone and it's now a dull gray.

I don't want to return it to my neighbor like this — does anyone know of a way I can get the shine back?

Sent by Sue More

Last week hurricane-force winds swept through Los Angeles, causing a 25-hour power outage in our neighborhood. Fortunately, we didn't suffer much (in fact, it was a rather enjoyable time) but as the hours ticked by, we did worry about the foods in our refrigerator and freezer. We knew that meats and a pan of leftover lasagna would have to go, but what about things like fruit juice and eggs? More

Cookie baking should be fun and festive, not stressful and harried. To ensure this is always the case, prep your pantry and spice cupboard so they're sorted and stocked for the holiday season. More

In many homes, your kitchen is on display. In others, you can see it through a door that faces the living room and then there's a few that have the luxury of having it totally concealed. Because it's always being seen, try making a cleaning checklist by having a staring contest with it. You're destined to lose, but you'll be the winner on grime. More

Last week Serious Eats did a post on all of the elements that can affect a cup of coffee. When you really get right down to it, there are only two ingredients in a pure cup of joe: ground coffee beans and water. But have you ever thought about what might be lingering in your coffee filter? More

We used to live a paper towel-less life. But then became parents. It still takes us a long time to use up a whole roll, but we do have them in the house these days. That's why we like this out-of-the-way-but-handy solution to storing them: More

I know, I know. Cleaning is usually way down on our list of things to get excited about, and new cleaning products are even further down. But have you discovered these "magic" eraser pads? They're all they claim to be and more. More